1976 was a great (greatest?) year for albums
- Thread starter downbound123
- Start date
Indeed, this was a great year. I think 1969 and 1971 were probably my favourite years, but '76 is definitely a contender.
The next year Elvis died and a space movie with a woman with a 1920s hairdo became a hit. Q107 was born.
And now the famous poster of 1976.
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I have gotten into many arguments with people about what defines the "classic rock era" and I have fairly strong parameters in my definition.
I think the classic-rock era started in 1964 with Beatlemania and the British Invasion and it ended in 1977 with the rise of punk and disco and the death of Elvis. Punk and disco, as well as hair metal, which was just a couple years away, pretty much killed classic rock.
Some radio stations with a classic-rock format are playing bands like Nirvana and GnR and I refuse to concede that those bands are classic rock. The definition does not keep broadening as years pass; it remains constant.
Just needed a rant there.
Do you not include Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, etc. from the mid 50's and on in your definition?
EXCELLENT question.
No, I don't, and here's why:
They are the originators of rock music; they set the foundations for what would become "classic rock", but I don't think the pre-1964 rock is the same as "classic rock". These guys are, in the purest sense, the "oldies".
Rock music was a fad that came and went in the mid-to-late 1950s. It birthed a teen culture in the Anglosphere and was a big part of pop culture.
And then something happened by 1960: Rock pretty much died.
Many of the people you mentioned had either died, were disgraced or had retired:
Elvis Presley -- went into the Army in 1958 and retired from performing (for 10 years)
Buddy Holly -- died
Chuck Berry -- caught with a prostitute in 1959 and blacklisted
Jerry Lee Lewis -- married his 13-year-old cousin and blacklisted
Eddie Cochrane -- died
The fad of rock music had come and gone. There was a major lull between 1960 and 1964. .... Except in the UK where rock 'n' roll culture was still big and getting bigger.
Not only were British bands heavily influenced by the above-mentioned people, they were bringing those sounds into their own bands and some were melding it with something few Americans were doing -- Black blues music, like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, etc.
The Beatles basically jump-started rock 'n' roll outside of the UK and launched the British Invasion, and ripples that started from the British Invasion carried on, pretty much up to the present day.
So there were two early eras of rock music: the oldies era (1954-1960) and the classic rock era (1964-1977).
No, I don't, and here's why:
They are the originators of rock music; they set the foundations for what would become "classic rock", but I don't think the pre-1964 rock is the same as "classic rock". These guys are, in the purest sense, the "oldies".
Rock music was a fad that came and went in the mid-to-late 1950s. It birthed a teen culture in the Anglosphere and was a big part of pop culture.
And then something happened by 1960: Rock pretty much died.
Many of the people you mentioned had either died, were disgraced or had retired:
Elvis Presley -- went into the Army in 1958 and retired from performing (for 10 years)
Buddy Holly -- died
Chuck Berry -- caught with a prostitute in 1959 and blacklisted
Jerry Lee Lewis -- married his 13-year-old cousin and blacklisted
Eddie Cochrane -- died
The fad of rock music had come and gone. There was a major lull between 1960 and 1964. .... Except in the UK where rock 'n' roll culture was still big and getting bigger.
Not only were British bands heavily influenced by the above-mentioned people, they were bringing those sounds into their own bands and some were melding it with something few Americans were doing -- Black blues music, like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, etc.
The Beatles basically jump-started rock 'n' roll outside of the UK and launched the British Invasion, and ripples that started from the British Invasion carried on, pretty much up to the present day.
So there were two early eras of rock music: the oldies era (1954-1960) and the classic rock era (1964-1977).
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours was released in 1977. And the list is missing Al Stewart's 'Year of the Cat'. I think 1976 was a stellar year for music. I'm not sure its the best but its definitely up there.
My 10 favorite LP's from that year
Silk Degrees - Boz Scaggs
I Want You - Marvin Gaye
Boston - Boston
Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
Hotel California - Eagles
Too Hot to Handle - Heatwave
2112 - Rush
Breezin' - George Benson
The Jacksons - The Jacksons
Part 3 - K.C. & the Sunshine Band
My 10 favorite LP's from that year
Silk Degrees - Boz Scaggs
I Want You - Marvin Gaye
Boston - Boston
Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
Hotel California - Eagles
Too Hot to Handle - Heatwave
2112 - Rush
Breezin' - George Benson
The Jacksons - The Jacksons
Part 3 - K.C. & the Sunshine Band
1967 was pretty good too...
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Doors by The Doors
Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Forever Changes by Love
Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles
Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
Absolutely Free by The Mothers of Invention
Disraeli Gears by Cream
Between the Buttons by The Rolling Stones
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Doors by The Doors
Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Forever Changes by Love
Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles
Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
Absolutely Free by The Mothers of Invention
Disraeli Gears by Cream
Between the Buttons by The Rolling Stones
Boston topped it for me
busy year though. Aerosmith Rocks
Skynyrd
Bad company Burnin Sky
Blondie
Queen
Boz Scaggs
Steely Dan
Thin Lizzy
Finally Jeff Beck
Saw him on the wired tour at The Gardens. Flawless. As was Jan Hammer.
I saw the Jeff Beck Group, with "Rod the Mod" on vocals, May, 1969 at the Fillmore East NYC.
Opening act was Joe Cocker and The Grease Band, right off the release of "With A Little Help From My Friends".
Both were great. It's truly hard to say who put on the better show...
Max Webster played my high school in the fall of 74. For the show I stole a bottle of Stock 84 from my parents liquor cabinet, worst hangover I ever had. 76 Max Webster released their first album.
Saw Max in either 73 or 74 can't remember which. I had just moved to Toronto, at the Knob Hill. K. Mitchell was a killer guitarist even back them. They did a Who medley which was great.
Some nice songs. Except for Elton John and Paul McCartney who has consistently sucked over the decades since the Beatles.
That's what I think when I hear his vapid Christmas song, supposedly he had the number. 1 hit of 1976 with Silly Love Songs. The list doesn't include Klatuu.
Was a good year no doubt. It was a big year for debuts including the aforementioned Jimi Hendrix, Velvet Underground & The Doors as well as The Grateful Dead, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Van Morrison, Procol Harum, The Youngbloods, Sly & the Family Stone, Traffic, Cat Stevens and The Chambers Brothers.
You also had one of Aretha Franklin's best LP's 'I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You' which contained her signature song "Respect". Miles Davis released 'Sorcerer' which would become one of his best albums. And 'United' by the duet Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell that was their most successful album together. 1967 was also the release year for my favorite song of the decade "Expressway to Your Heart" by Soul Survivors
I'd also put 1969 in the mix for that decade.
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